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TAIT & AVIS. Sheets-Sheet 1.

0 Still- 1 No. 63,115. Patented March 19, 1867.

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2 Sheets-Sheet 2. TAIT &'AV|S.

Nq. 63,115. Patented March 19, "1867.

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' vapors rising from the liquid in the compartments b 6 b, and '6 through the condenser O.

A. H. TAIT AND JOSEPH AVIS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

Letters Patent No. 63,115, dated March 19, 1867'.

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TO ALL WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: Y

Be it known that we, A. II. TAIT and JOSEPH W. AVIS, both of No. Pearl street, in the city, county,- and State of New York, have invented a new and improved Apparatus for Distilling Petroleum and other Liquids; and we do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, andexact description thereof, which will enable those/skilled in the art to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing, forming part of this specification, in which Figure 1 represents a plan or top view of this invention, partly in section.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, the line 97 It, fig. 1, indicating the plane of section.

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section of the same, taken in the plane indicated by the line 3/ y, figil.

' Similar letters of reference in these vie rs indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to a'distilling apparatus which consists mainly o l a still divided by one or more partitions into two or more compartments, which communicate \vitheach (rtl 1cr at the top by suitable openings for the vapors, and at the bottom hyopenings for the liquid. The opening pr openings in the top are provided with gates or cocks to shut oil" the communication and divide the light from the heavy vapors, so as to pass each into its appropriate condenser. v The crude oil is admitted to that compartment furthest from the fire, and v the compartment or compartments next to the fire are provided with valves or gates, so that the communication between the same and the preceding compartment or compartments can be cut off, and the compartment or compartmcnts over the fire can be cleaned without being compelled to empty the entire still. The first and last compartments of the still are connected by a pipe which serves to equalize the gravity of the liquid contained in said compartments whenever it may be desired. The last compartment of the still connects with the coking rctorts, in which the refuse or heaviest parts of the oil are subjected to a final distillation.

A represents a still, which may be made in the form shown in the drawing or in any other suitable form or shape. This still is divided by one or more partitions, a,into two or more compartments, 6, 6, b 6 6*, 6 The crude oil is admitted from the supply-tank B to the first compartment, 6, which is furthest from the fireplace, and it passes from this compartment to the succeeding compartments through apertures 0, in the lower parts of the partitions a, which apertures are so situated that the oil is compelled to run through the still in a zigzag course. In the upper parts of the partitions a are openings (Z for thepassage-of the vapors which rise from the liquid in the variouscompartments, and one or more of these openings are provided with valves 0 0, so that they can be shut off, and the course of the vapors can be regulated. Said valves are operated by handles ff, on the top of the still. From the compartments 1) and b rise pipes g 5 provided with stop-cocks 72 71, and each of these pipes connects with the coil or worm in one of the condensers C or O. If the valve 0 is closed the vapors rising from the liquid in the two first compartments 6 and b pass through the condenser O, and the But if the valve e is opened and the valve 0 closed, the vapors rising from the liquid in the compartments Z2, b, 6 6 can be made to-pass through either of the condensers by adjusting the stop-cocks hand It. The apertures c, in the three last partitions a, which are situated between the compartmcnts b. b 6 b, and b 6 are provided with gates z, 2', i, which are operated either from the end or from the side of the still by suitable handles j, j y' By closing the gate 2' the liquid. is prevented from passing into the compartments b", and b ,,which are situated nearest to the fire, and these compartments can be readily cleaned without interrupting the operation of the remaining compartments, and by closing the gate j the two last compartments, 6" 6 can -be cleaned Without interfering with any of the other compartments, and if it is desiredto clean the last compartment 6'? alone, the gate is closed. The compartment 6 is brought in direct communication with the compartment 1; by means of a pipe, is, situated on the outside of the still. This pipe is provided with suitable stop-cocks Z Z, and it connects with the discharge pipe 172. By m eans of said pipe the liquid from the first compartment can be run directly into the last compartment, and the gravity of the vapors obtained from the liquids inthese compartment and also in the remaining compartments can be regulated andequalizod. The compartment 6 communicates, through a pipe, at, with the coking retorts E E, which are situated over a separate fire-place. In these retorts the heavy parts or refuse of the liquid undergo a final distillation, and theseretorts arc so arranged that either of them can be shut off and cleaned out without interfering with the operation of the othcr. The vapors rising from the liquid in the coking retorts are collected in the condenser F.

By this apparatus petroleum or other liquidsof a similar nature can be distilled-without interruption, the still being so arranged that the same is not liable to choke up, and by combining two condensers with the sev-' eral compartments of the still, oils or liquids of different specific gravity can be run simultaneously, and the density of these liquids can be regulated by adjusting the valves e e. I

What we claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is I v 1. The arrangement of partitions a, in the still A, said part'itions being provided with apertures a at or near their bottoms, and with apertures cl at or near their tops, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. Placing the aperture 0 at ornear thebottoms of the partitions a in a zigzag position, substantially as' and for the purpose set forth. I

3. The arrangement of valves e e, in the top parts of the partitions a, substantially as and for the purpose described.

4. The arrangement of two or more condensers C C, in combination with the compartments 6, 1;, 12 6 ,0? the still A, and with valves 6, a, regulating the communication between said compartments, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. The equalizing pipe 11, in combination with the compartment b b of the still A; substantially as and-for the purpose described.

6. The gates z, i, i, in combination with the compartments 6*, b, b of the still A, substantially as and for the purpose set forth. v p

7. The combination of cokingor tar re'torts E E, with a still, A, divided into a number of compartments, 6, 7), b b substantially as and for the purpose described. H

A. H. TAIT, JOSEPH.W. AVIS.

Witnesses W. HAUFF, I RunoLr Wes-rs. 

